Latur district (Marathi: लातूर जिल्हा) is a district in Maharashtra state of India. Latur city is the district headquarters and is the 16th largest city in the state of Maharashtra.[1] The district is primarily agricultural. Urban population comprises 25.47% of the total population.[2]

Latur has an ancient history, which probably dates to the Rashtrakuta period. It was home to a branch of Rashtrakutas which ruled the Deccan 753-973 AD. The first Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga was from Lattalur (Kannada: ಲಟ್ಟಲೂರು), probably the ancient name for Latur. Anecdotally, Ratnapur is mentioned as a name for Latur.

The King Amoghavarsha of Avinash developed Latur city, originally the native place of the Rashtrakutas. The Rashtrakutas who succeeded the Chalukyas of Badami in 753 AD called themselves the residents of Lattalur.

In the 17th century, it became part of the independent princely state of Hyderabad. Under Hyderabad the tax system was reformed and many of the exploitive taxing practices were ended.[3] In 1905 it was merged with surrounding areas, renamed Latur tehsil, and became part of Osmanabad district, which until 1948 was a part of Hyderabad state under the Nizam. The chief of Nizam's Razakar army Qasim Rizwi was from Latur.

After independence and the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union, Osmanabad became part of Bombay Province. In 1960, with the creation of Maharashtra, Osmanabad was one of its districts. On August 15, 1982, a separate Latur district was carved out of Osmanabad district.

Latur district is in the Marathwada region in Maharashtra in India, located between 17°52' North to 18°50' North and 76°18' East to 79°12' East in the Deccan plateau. It has an average elevation of 631 metres (2070 ft) above mean sea level.

The district may be divided into two regions — the Balaghat plateau and the northeastern region consisting of Ahmadpur and Udgir. The entire district of Latur is on the Balaghat plateau, 540 to 638 metres from the mean sea level.

Average rainfall in the district is 600 to 800 mm. This is usually during the monsoon months from July to October. Moderate temperatures are mainly observed. The rainfall is unpredictable in tune with the Indian monsoon. Summers begin from early March to July. Summers are dry and hot. The temperature ranges from 24 °C to 39.6 °C, though at the peak they may reach 41 °C. November to January is the winter season. Temperatures at the peak drop to single digits but usually they hover around 13.9 °C to 21.8 °C sometimes lowers up to 11 °C. January to March are the months with moderate temperatures.

Major rivers of the district are Manjra, Terna, Rena, Manar, Tawarja, Tiru and Gharni. The Godavaris and its branches offer opportunity for damming the streams leading to large number of rivers in Latur district.

In the 2001 Indian census, Latur had a population of 2,080,285.[4] Males constituted 52% and females 48% of the population. Latur had an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with male literacy at 77%, and female literacy at 63%. In 2001 in Latur, 14% of the population was under 6 years of age. For every 1000 males age 6 and older, there were 935 females.[4]

Fairs and festivals: Shri Siddeshwar fair at Latur is held every year. Thousands of people attend the Gangaram Maharaj Samadhi every Ekadashi at Hattibet in Udgir tehsil. In January 2011, the first ever 'Latur Festival' was organised on the 10th, 11 and 12 January under the guidance of Shri Amitji Deshmukh. The grand success of this event has now ensured a permanent spot on the cultural calendar. Now this will be an annual fixture. The event is organised by the Latur Club and managed by Indian Magic Eye Pvt. Ltd.

Latur has developed as a good educational center in Maharashtra over the years.

From Past few Years, Latur have emerged as a strong Educational hub for Secondary School and Higher Secondary School. Students from Latur are always in top spot when it comes to results. In last decade almost all Maharashtra Topers comes from Latur.

Famous colleges include Dayanand College of Commerce, College Of Computer Science and Information Technology(COCSIT),Rajarshi Shahu College, Dayanand College of Arts, Dayanand Science College, Dayanand College of Law,Kesharbai Kale Girls' College,Mahatma Basweshwar College, Udaygiri College, Hawagi Swami College, Mahatma Gandhi College,Ahmedpur, M.S. Bidve Engineering College, M.I.M.S.R.Medical College, Govt. Medical College, Manjara Ayurvedic College, Dayanand Law College, Maitree Institute of Management & Technology, Sandeepani Technology & Management and several others to name a Dr.Chandrabhanu Sonavane Jr.Science College. Apart from this in this,according to the coaching class institutes, there is very well known KASHYAPS ACADEMY for mathematics subject for the students of CBSE board in center of the city Nandi stop, ausa road Latur.

Latur is famous as Latur pattern for SSC and HSC. The major role player colleges are: 1.Shree Rajarshi shahu science college Latur. 2.Shree Dayanand Science College Latur. 3.dr chandrabhanu sonvane college Latur

Latur has one engineering, two medical colleges and a residential girls government Polytechnical college. College of Computer Science and Information Technology, Latur.

Shivlingeshwar College of Pharmacy, Almala,Vishweshwarayya Abhiyantriki Padvika Mahavidyalya (Polytechnic), Dagadojirao Deshmukh D.Pharmacy College Dilip Nagar, Almala and Ramnath Adhayapak Vidhylaya, Almala. Tq.Ausa Dist. Latur. Both colleges are 19 kilometers from Latur main city. These colleges are developed in rural area in Latur District.

Administratively the district is divided into three subdivisions namely Latur, Nilanga and Udgir, and further divided into ten talukas & ten Panchayat Samitis. These are Latur, Udgir, Ahmedpur, Ausa, Nilanga, Renapur, Chakur, Deoni, Shirur Anantpal, and Jalkot. Latur city is the administrative headquarters of the district. There are around 945 villages & 786 Gram Panchayats in the district.

Wadwal Nagnath- This small hillock near Chakur is home to hundreds of rare species of plants, most of them believed to be of medicinal use in Ayurveda. Every year, yatra is held here when thousands of pilgrims from the district and nearby throng to Wadwal.

Sai Nandanwan- Another tourist spot near Chakur. Recently developed. Spread into nearly 400 acres (1.6 km2), it has mango plantations, water park and amusement park. A temple of Satya Sai Baba is situated in the middle of the park.

Devarjan- Another small hill in Udgir taluka with small temple on the top.

Kharosa - It has caves carved out into latterite rocks. Believed to belong to 8th century AD.

Latur was one of the important trading hub during the time of Nizam of Hyderabad. It is an industrial center as well as agriculture based economy. Latur is the rising Industrial Hub Of Marathwada.

Latur is known all over India for the Quality and Quantity of Pulses that it produces and especially Toor Dall a.k.a. Arhar dal or Pegion Peas. Latur is also a major trading center for Urad, Moong and Channa along with TUR. Also it is known for trading in Oil Seeds mainly Sun-flower and Soya Bean, kardi (safflower),nutcrackers, locks, brassware, milk powder, ginning and pressing. It is also famous for the sugar mills like Manjra, Saker Karkhana, Vikas, Jagruti etc.

Latur Airport is located near Chincholiraowadi, northwest of Latur city. The Airport was constructed in 1991 by Public Works Department (PWD) and then handed over to MIDC. It was upgraded at a cost of nearly Rs.140 million and is being operated on a 99 year lease by Reliance Airport Developers (RADPL).[10] There is no scheduled air service currently from latur airport although the airport sees 14 to 16 aircraft movements a month.[11]

All railway lines through Latur are broad gauge. They belong to Central Railway

Latur railway station was built again when the Barshi railway line was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge. The railway gauge was converted in September 2007 from Latur to Osmanabad and in October 2008 from Osmanabad to Kurduvadi. Latur is now is connected to Mumbai by a direct train via Kurduvadi (train number 1006 from Latur and 1005 from Mumbai). It is connected to Hydrabad by train number 7013 that originates at Osmanabad.[12] With the introduction of train number 1005 via Kurduvadi in October 2008, the earlier train connecting Latur to Latur Road, Parbhani and Aurangabad was discontinued.

The important railway stations are Latur, Latur Road and Udgir. The district has 148 km of railways of which 83 km is broad gauge and 65 km is narrow gauge.

The railway line from Latur to Kurduwadi to Miraj was narrow gauge. The Kurduwadi-Pandharpur section towards Miraj was converted to broad gauge in 2002. The Latur to Osmanabad section was converted to broad gauge in September 2007. (Osmanabad did not lie on the narrow gauge railway line and the alignment was changed for the new broad gauge track to pass through Osmanabad.) The Osmanabad-Kurduwadi section of broad gauge track became operational in October 2008. The Pandharpur-Miraj section is still narrow gauge and the conversion to broad gauge is low on priority. But it will be very important route to Goa if pandharpur-miraj is converted to broadgauge, as the people here agriculture-based but have no market. Trains will help them achieve Konkan and Goan markets and hence the poor economy of these people will improve.

The Maharashtra Cricket Association is planning to construct their home ground near Latur City. Also a Divisional sports complex have been sanctioned for Latur region, which would cater to the needs of players in Latur, Osmanabad and Nanded districts.

National Level Kabaddi and Basket Ball were held in Latur district. Latur Region is still awaiting to get a Krida Prabodhini.

Latur District is served by 12 government hospitals, 46 Primary Health Centers, 19 dispensaries and 234 primary health support groups. A Super Specialty Hospital is taking place in Latur which would benefit to the patients in 11 adjoining districts.

In addition to these there are a large number of private hospitals; Jatal Hospital & Research Center, Gugle Memorial Hospital, Yeshwantrao Chavan Rural Hospital and Latur Cancer Hospital are the famous ones.

Newspapers:Ekamt is the first Maharashtra District news paper daily having an internet edition along with an epaper. Marathwada Neta- which are the leading newspaper of the region, while Yeshwant, Lokmat, Bhukamp,- Sakaal & Punyanagri and are other daily newspapers published in the regional language.

Latur had a devastating, though only midly severe, earthquake on 30 September 1993 resulting in a huge loss of life. The earthquake measured only 6.3 on the Richter scale but more than 30,000 people were estimated to have died mainly due to poor construction of houses and village huts made of stones which just collapsed on people who were fast asleep in early morning hours. It struck southern Marathwada region of Maharashtra state in central-western part of India and affected Latur, Beed, Osmanabad and adjoining districts about 400 km south-east of Mumbai (Bombay). It was an intra-plate earthquake. Latur was almost completely destroyed and life came to a standstill. The earthquake's focus was around 12 km deep - relatively shallow causing shock waves to cause more damage. The number of lives lost was high as the earthquake occurred at 3.56 a.m. local time when people were fast asleep.

After the earthquake, seismic zones were reclassified and building codes and standards were revised all over India.